The BBFCBritish Board of Film Classification

What is the BBFC• BBFC stands for British Board of Film Classification

• They are responsible for deciding the classification of films.

• There are 7 different classifications of films.

• U (unlassified - for everyone)

• PG (parental guidance needed)

• 12 (no one under 12)

• 12a(no one under 12 can watch without an adult in the cinema)

• 15 (no one under 15)

• 18 (no one uder 18)

• R18 (no one under 18 - contains pornographic themes)

Unclassified

•Films classified as a ‘U’ are suitable for all ages to watch.

•An example of this Monsters Inc.

Parental Guidance

•A film classified as a ‘PG’ means that parental guidance is needed when watching the film.

•An example of this is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

12 and 12a•A film classified as a ‘12’ means you

have to be 12 or above to watch the film.

•A 12a applies to cinemas only and means that if you are under 12 you have to be accompanied by an adult

•An example of a 12 is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

15

•A film classified as a ‘15’ means it is not suitable for anyone under the age of 15.

•An example of a 15 is Skyfall.

18

•A film classified as an ‘18’ is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.

•an example of this is The Wolf Of Wall Steet

R18

•An R18 is for films containing pornography. They are also unsuitable for anyone under the age of 18.

•An

What determines the classification of

a film?• Strong Language

• Violence

• Imitable Behaviour

• Drugs

• Horror

• Nudity

• Themes

What classification should our film be?

•We have come to the conclusion our film should be an 18.

•Of the 9 categories used to classify films, ours contains 6; drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, violence, and language.

What does our film include?

Strong Language

•In the phone call scene, the main kidnapper says ‘F***’ when on the phone to Jason.

Violence

•During the kidnapping, the kidnappers suffocate Jason’s girlfriend and throw her in the boot of a car.

•In the phone call scene, Jason’s girlfriend gets hit around the head with a metal pole and knocked out.

Imitable behaviour

•Hitting someone with a metal pole can easily be imitated by children.

•Snorting drugs is also imitable behaviour.

Drugs

•Jason, the protagonist, is seen snorting lines of cocaine.

•The kidnappers work for a drug lord.

Horror

•The kidnappers are wearing balaclavas and appear quite scary.

•The kidnapping could cause some distress if a child were to view it.

•An associate of the kidnappers is killed by Jason.

Themes

•Film is centred around crime and drugs which could be taken the wrong way by younger viewers.

•There is lots of crime involved – unsuitable for younger audiences e.g. dealing drugs, abduction, and murder.